Tension in Health Ministry as EFCC probes alleged misuse of funds

There is anxiety in some quarters in the Ministry of Health as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is said to have commenced investigations into alleged financial misconduct by past and present officials.

The exact nature of investigations was not clear as at press time, but there were reports in Abuja , the Federal Capital yesterday that top ministry officials have been invited for interrogation at the anti-graft agency.

There have been allegations of misuse of Ebola fund, donor funds, and several similar issues at the ministry.

One of those allegedly invited , the Director of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Prof. Abdusalam Nasidi , told The Guardian he had not received any summons.

He said: “I am not aware of any invitation to appear at EFCC. I am just coming from Geneva where I went to attend the World Health Assembly with other officials.”

EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, also denied knowledge of the invitation of the health officials.

But President Muhammadu Buhari recently ordered full investigations into the alleged misuse of millions of dollars support to Nigeria from the Global Fund to Fight Malaria, AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund).

The president who was obviously worried about audit reports of the alleged misappropriation of the funding support especially for HIV and Malaria, directed the EFCC to investigate the issue and bring those found culpable to book.

In the meantime, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation has set up two high-powered investigative panels to look into the affected programmes and the financial transactions.

The first panel headed by Health Minister, Professor Isaac Adewole is to conduct in-depth review of all programmes while the second is chaired by Auditor General of the Federation, Mr. Samuel Ukura and is to review all financial transactions during the period.